Service connector



March 14. 1944. A s 2,344,163

SERVICE CONNECTOR Filed July 2. 1941 Val/ 4 IN VENTOR. A2 THUZ C Mac/1.

Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED SERVICE CONNECTOR Arthur C. Misch, SouthBend, Ind., assignor to M. B. Skinner Company, South Bend, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Application July 2, 1941, Serial No. 400,725

4 Claims.

This invention relates to service connectors, and more particularly to adevice by means of which a branch pipe may be connected with a main.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device which isnovel and simple in construction, and which is easy to assemble and toapply to a pipe.

A further object is to provide a three piece service connector whereinapplication of a fitting for a branch service line to the connectorserves to tighten and anchor the connector to the main line.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a yokeadapted to straddle a main and provided with an aperture to receive afitting for a branch line, the ends of said yoke having slots toslidably receive a locking plate diametrically opposed to the fitting,whereby the application of the fitting to the connector entails pressingthereof against the main to pull on the yoke and the locking plate andthereby effect a clamping connection of the parts on the main.

A further object is to provide a service connector between a main and abranch pipe wherein a branch pipe fitting has a firm frictional fit withthe main to form a sealed connection therewith and to tighten and anchorthe connector assembly on the. main.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a yokeadapted to fit around a pipe and provided with a central screw threadedopening and a removable locking member spanning the opposite ends ofsaid yoke, said opening being adapted to receive a member which pressesagainst the pipe and pulls on the yoke to anchor the connector to thepipe.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an end elevation of the device, illustrating the main uponwhich it is mounted in cross section taken on line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device taken at right angles to Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a pipetapping or drilling device mounted on the connector.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates. the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the numeral I8 designates a main pipe, and the numeral Hdesignates a branch pipe adapted to be connected to the. main. Thedevice comprises a yoke l3 adapted to straddle the main l and having aconcave-convex saddle portion l4 seated on the pipe and parallel opposedplates'l5 depending from saddle M in parallel opposed relation andspaced apart a distance slightly greater than the outer diameter of pipeIll. The lower ends of plates 15 are enlarged or thickened at l6 andhave grooves I! formed in the inner faces thereof and spaced above thelower edges. Grooves I! extend parallel to each other and parallel tothe axis of the pipe H]. A tubular projection l8 extends upwardly fromthe center of saddle M. An integral projecting lug I 9 is formed at oneside of projection 18. A screw threaded opening 20 passes throughenlargement l9 and communicates with the bore of tubular portion l8. Aset screw 2| is adapted to be threaded in the aperture 20. The yoke l3preferably constitutes a casting formed of malleable metal.

A locking plate 22, preferably of concavo-convex transverseconfiguration and of a length substantially equal to the length of thegrooves [1, has downwardly and outwardly diverging side portions 23 of ashape complementary to the shape of the grooves l1 and adapted to fitslidably in said grooves. The concave inner faces of plate 22 hassubstantially the same radius as the concave inner face of yoke saddlel4, and is substantially concentric with said yoke saddle when the partsare assembled.

A tubular fitting 24 has a reduced dimension externally threaded lowerportion 25 adapted for threaded engagement in the tubular portion I8 ofthe saddle. The upper end portion 26 of the fitting 24 is enlarged andhas an internally screw threaded bore therein adapted to receive thescrew threaded end of the branch pipe II. A polygonal enlargement 2'! isformed on fitting 24 between the ends thereof to provide a seat for anoperating wrench. The lower end of the reduced portion 25 of the fitting24 is tapered at 28 and is adapted to seat in a tapered opening formedin the main Ill. The bore 29 in the portion 25 of fitting 24 is of asmall diameter, substantially equal to the minor diameter of the taperedopening in main [0.

In the use of the device, the yoke 23 is mounted astride the main NJ atthe point at which the tapered opening in the main if formed in theevent such opening is preformed. The locking plate 22 is then insertedto span the ends of the legs 15 of the yoke by sliding thereo. ingrooves ll. The side portions 23 of the plate 22 are of a size to have afree sliding fit in the grooves I! whereby the plate may be readily slidto place. The yoke and plate thus form an assembly encircling main l0and loose thereon in view of the necessity of a proportion of parts topermit the plate 22 to be slid along the pipe during assembly. Then thefitting 24 is threaded into the tubular portion l8 of the yoke. When thetapered end 28 of the fitting 24 engages the tapered opening in thepipe, the same serves to press upon the pipe at the walls of saidtapered pipe opening and to pull upon the yoke l3, thereby forcing thelocking plate 22 into firm frictional anchoring or clamping relation tothe pipe ID in diametrically opposed relation to the fitting 24.

A number of special advantages are obtained by this construction. Thus,the formation of the connector in only three pieces involves asimplicity of construction and a reduction in the number of parts. Forexample, at least two securing members are usually required for securinga conventional connector upon a pipe, and those securing members areentirely separate from the parts of the connector per se. Also, thepressure applied by the device upon the pipe is equal at all points onthe circumference of the tapered end portion 28 of the fitting and isapplied over the large area afforded by the tapered formation of theportion 28 and the tapered pipe opening. This assures a tight seal andeliminates the necessity for lead sealing elements surrounding thetapped opening of the connector as have been required in previousdevices of this character. Still another advantage of the constructionresides in the fact that the fit of the tapered end 28 of the fitting 24in the tapered opening of the pipe supplements the anchoring or clampingaction or engagement of the connector With the pipe, and forms apositive means for preventing the relative movement of the connector andthe pipe either in a longitudinal or in a rotative direction. Anotheradvantage is that the set screw 2| may be employed to positively lockthefitting 24 on the connector after the fitting has been properlyseated on the tapered wall of the opening in the pipe l0, so that thedanger of loosening of the parts incident to vibration or other causesis eliminated and the positive sealed face engagement between taperedend 28 of the fitting and the tapered opening of the pipe is maintained.

The device may also be used upon pipes which do not have the necessarytapered opening formed therein previous to the mounting of the connectorthereon. An arrangement of this type is illustrated in Fig. 4, whereinthe tubular portion l8 of the yoke 13 receives and mounts the lower endof a screw threaded cylindrical member 30 having wing portions 3| bymeans of which the same may be rotated relative to the connector. Thecylinder 30 has a small central bore therethrough in which a shaft 32 isslidable 1ongitudinally and is rotatable. Shaft 32 may mount a combineddrill and reamer comprising a tapered reaming head 33 and a centraldrill 34 projecting centrally from the end of the reaming head. Cylinder30 is elongated and is externally screw threaded at 35 above the wings3| for screw threaded connection with a tubular member 36 having an endplate 31 apertured at 38 to freely receive a reduced end portion 39 ofshaft 32. The outer end 40 of shaft 3239 is preferably squared at 40 toreceive an operating wrench. An annular bearing 4| encircles shaftportion 39 and seats upon the shoulder formed between the reducedportion 39 and the major portion of shaft 32. The end plate 31 of tube36 bears upon the upper side of bearing 4|.

It will be observed that, to apply and operate, this construction theyoke l3 will be mounted upon the pipe Ill at the desired point and thelocking plate 22 will then be slid to place, as previously described.Thereupon, the drilling device, comprising cylinder 30, tube 36, shaft32, and the drilling and reaming head, will be applied to the connectoras an assembly by threading the lower end of cylinder 30 in the bore oftubular portion l8 of the connector. When the cylinder 30 has beensolidly mounted in said tubular portion H! of the yoke, the tube 36 ofthe drilling assembly will be rotated to bring the end of the drill 34to bear upon the pipe. The end of drill 34 presses upon the pipe andpulls upon the yoke and the locking plate 22 in the same manner abovedescribed to firmly lock and anchor the parts upon the pipe ID. Theshaft 32 may then be rotated by means of a wrench or other tool seatedon the end 40 of the shaft, and the tube 36 may be simultaneouslyrotated. In this manner, the necessary tapered opening in the pipe I0may be formed by drill 34 and reamer 33.

When the proper tapered opening has been formed in pipe [0, it ispossible to remove the drilling apparatus as a unit by unthreading thecylinder 30 from the tube l8. The fitting 24 can then be applied to theconnector to seat in the tapered opening as above described. Thesimplicity of the operation of applying and removing the drillingapparatus from the connector, coupled with the ease and speed with whichthe connector 24 may be applied to the connector, reduces to a minimumany hazard in the operation and also any loss of fluid in the pipe l0.Note that the same clamping action of the connector upon the pipe I0 isobtained during the use of the drilling apparatus as is obtained by theapplication of fitting 24, and that the mere operation of applying thedrilling apparatus to the connector serves to clamp or anchor theconnector upon the pipe in.

I claim:

1. A service connector comprising a yoke adapted to fit around a pipehaving an aperture defined by a Wall, said yoke having opposed endportions and a central tubular internally screw threaded projection, alocking plate spanning said end portions and slidable thereon parallelto said pipe, said yoke and platenormally fitting loosely around saidpipe, and a member threaded in said projection and having an axial boreand an end wall complementary to the wall of said pipe aperture, saidend wall having full sealforming face engagement with said aperture walland said member and plate pressing inwardly upon said pipe atdiametrically opposed points when said member is tightened in said yokeprojection.

2. A service connector comprising a yoke adapted to seat on a pipehaving a tapered opening, said yoke having a central screw threadedopening and opposed end portions, an anchor plate spanning said endportions and slidable thereon parallel to said pipe, said yoke and plateloosely encircling said pipe, and a tubular fitting threaded in saidyoke opening and having an end tapered complementary to and seating insaid pipe opening, said fitting pressing at its tapered end against saidpipe at said tapered opening to effect a tapered face-engaging sealinginterlock between said pipe and fitting and to draw upon said yoke andplate to clamp said pipe between main and to connect a branch incommunicat- I said plate and fitting when said fitting is tightened insaid yoke opening.

3. A service connector comprising a yoke adapted to straddle a pipehaving an opening therein defined by a smooth tapered wall, a removablelocking plate spanning opposite ends of said yoke and cooperating withsaid yoke t0 loosely encircle said pipe, said yoke having a centralthreaded opening, and a tubular fitting having a smooth tapered end wallcomplementary to the Wall of said pipe opening, said fitting beingthreaded in said yoke opening to press its tapered end into faceengagement with the wall of said pipe opening to efiect a sealedinterlocking joint therewith and to effect a clamping action on saidpipe in cooperation with said looking plate.

4. A service connector adapted to seat on a ing relation to a taperedopening in said main, and having a central threaded opening coaxial withthe opening in said main, a locking plate spanning opposite ends of saidyoke and cooperating with said yoke to loosely encircle said pipe, and atubular fitting threaded in said yoke opening and having its inner endtapered complementary to and seating in full face engagement in saidtapered m-ain opening, said fitting pressing against said pipe andpulling on said yoke to clamp said pipe between said plate and memherand to effect a sealed interlocking joint between the end of saidfitting and said main, said fitting having a threaded connection withsaid branch.

ARTHUR C. MISCH.

